Regular Briefing by Spokesperson Koo Byoungsam
Date: Monday,
December 11, 2023
Time: 10:30-10:34 A.M.
1. Regarding the proposed amendments to laws related to the
Unification Ministry
On December 8, three amendments to laws related to the Ministry of
Unification, including the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund Act, the
North Korean Defectors Protection and Settlement Support Act, and the
Development of Inter-Korean Relations Act were passed during the
plenary session of the National Assembly.
With the amendment to the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund Act, a
framework has been established to separately allocate and manage
donations contributed by private entities.
The Government will reserve and manage the donated funds in
accordance with the intended purposes of the donors' desired projects.
Furthermore, the amendment to the North Korean Defectors Protection
and Settlement Support Act has laid the foundation for requesting
investigations into major crimes committed by North Korean defectors,
reinforced support for regional adaptation centers, and provided
flexibility in managing the period of personal safety protection.
In line with the objectives of these amendments, the Government will
protect and systematically support North Korean defectors.
Lastly, through the amendment to the Development of Inter-Korean
Relations Act, a mechanism has been established to evaluate the
effectiveness of plans for developing inter-Korean relations, ensuring
that the outcomes are reflected in subsequent plans.
In addition, to prevent vacancies in the positions of members of the
Inter-Korean Relations Development Committee, a system has been
improved to automatically extend the terms of existing members until
new appointments are made.
These amendments will be promulgated within 15 days after being
transferred to the government and will enter into force six months
after the date of their promulgation.
The Government will undertake necessary procedures, such as
amendments to subordinate statutes or regulations such as enforcement
decrees and rules to ensure that the laws are enacted according to
their intended purposes.
2. Minister’s Schedule
On December 11, at 11:15 A.M., Unification Minister Kim Yung Ho will
present a letter of appreciation to Andres Harrison, who is concluding
his term as the Deputy Commander of the UNC.
At 2 P.M., Minister Kim will attend an international conference
hosted by the Institute for National Security Strategy and deliver
congratulatory remarks, and at 4 P.M., he will meet with Jim Rogers,
the chairman of Rogers Holdings in his office.
On December 12, Minister Kim will attend the cabinet meeting at 10
A.M., and attend the press briefing with foreign news media in Seoul
at 3 P.M. at the Korea Press Center.
On December 14, Minister Kim will attend a briefing for ambassadors
and international organizations to South Korea at the Lotte Hotel Seoul.
3. Q&A
Q) North Korea’s Rodong Sinmun criticized our military's joint
training and condemned the partial suspension of the September 19
Military Agreement. What is the Ministry’s take on this?
A) As you are well aware, North Korea is the party responsible for
escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula. We deeply regret their
unilateral criticism of our justified and defensive measures.
Q) It appeared that the vehicle used by North Korean leader Kim Jong
Un seemed to have changed during a group photo session from the
National Conference of Mothers. What is the Ministry’s assessment on this?
A) We have seen reports about Kim Jong Un’s new Mercedes vehicle. At
this moment, we do not have specific information regarding the
vehicle. Related developments will be closely monitored with relevant agencies.
The import of luxury goods into North Korea is prohibited by the UN
Security Council sanctions. Therefore, we urge all countries to
refrain from supporting North Korea's sanction violations.
